Darktable’s Exported Image Colors Differ From the Preview

A rare but frustrating problem in Darktable is when the exported image has colors that differ significantly from the preview in the software.

This issue is typically related to color management and how Darktable handles color profiles during editing and export.

To resolve this, start by ensuring that Darktable is using the correct color space throughout your workflow.

Check the Display Color Profile setting in the preferences and verify that it is set to match your monitor’s color profile.

If you don’t have a calibrated monitor, it may be worth using a device like the X-Rite i1Display to ensure accurate color calibration.

Additionally, Darktable uses the ProPhoto RGB color space by default for RAW images, which can be wider than the sRGB color space typically used for web and standard prints.

To ensure consistency, make sure that the export color profile matches the intended usage.

You can do this by selecting the correct profile in the export dialog.

If you’re exporting for web use, choosing an sRGB profile is generally best.

If you’re printing, you may need to select a more appropriate ICC profile for your printer.

Sometimes, color discrepancies arise because Darktable’s internal processing uses a different color model than what is selected during export.

Ensure that the image’s color model is consistent throughout the pipeline.

Another consideration is your export settings.

If you're working with HDR images or a very high dynamic range, Darktable might be exporting in a format that doesn’t display the full range of colors properly on your screen.

In these cases, consider exporting the image as 16-bit TIFF or another high-dynamic-range format that preserves more color information.

The software can also apply tone mapping when exporting, so be mindful of how this might impact the final output.

Finally, for images with gradient color shifts or color banding, it may be necessary to adjust the image’s bit depth.

While Darktable processes images in 32-bit floating-point precision, exporting to a lower bit-depth (e.g., 8-bit or 16-bit) can sometimes cause color inconsistencies.

To avoid this, check your export settings and adjust the bit depth to the highest value needed for your output medium.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, try reprocessing the image from the original RAW file to see if the problem persists.